Method of emulsifying liquid.



R. L. WILLIAMS. METHOD OF EMULSIFYING LIQUID.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. I6, 1914.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

1 IIIIIIVIIAG'I'YII Illlllllll 1211/6 70%07'. 4% M i mu -M TED ROBERT L.WILLIAMS, OF BRIQHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN W. DAVIES,

I 0]? READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF EMULSIFYING LIQUID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1o, rare.

Application filed March 16, 1914. Serial Nb. 824,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brighton, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Method of EmulsifyingLiquid, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention relates to an improved method of treating a liquidcontaining fat globules wherebythe liquid is clarified and emulsifiedand the defects of previous methods of emulsification are eliminated.

duce milk and other liquid containing fat globules substantially freefrom grit and other foreign matter, and with the fat globules socomminuted that they will not rise to the surface of the liquid.

Other objects ofthe invention will appear from the followingdescription.

The invention consists in the method of treating liquid having fatglobules to obtain a clean emulsified product as will hereinafter bemore fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a view in elevation of a machine for carrying outthis improved method, parts of the machine being broken away and otherparts being shown in section as taken on line 1-1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2,represents across sectional view of parts of the same as taken on line22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, represents a sectional view, taken on said line 1-1,Fig. 2, showing a section of the delivery and outlet pipes.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout.

Milk and other liquids containing fat globules have heretofore beensubjected ,to an emulsifying process by supplying the liquid to acompression pump communicating by a pipe with emulsifying devicesprovided with a very narrow passage through or between these devices. Insuch machines in spite of the use of filters much of the grit andimpurities in the liquid were received with the milk by the pumpchambers and were carried tothe emulsifying devices. Twodisadvantagesresulted. The surfaces of the emulsifying devices werescarred by the grit passing over them'and these surfaces althou h ofhard material had tobe reground an smoothed from time to time.

The main object of the invention is to protively disrupt the fat speedof rotation. By

Some of' the grit and other impurities caught in the narrow passagewhich became clogged by their accumulation so that the operator wasobliged frequently to readjust the emulsifying devices. Thisreadjustment involved separating the emulsifying surfaces whereby thedirt was *washed into the product of the machine, and resetting thesurfaces together.

By my invention I efliciently clean the milk or. other liquid, avoid thedifliculties above mentioned, produce a clean emulsified product and amable to employ simple forms of emulsifying devices which efi'ecglobulesat comparatively low pressure. I am also able to dispense with pumps andmake use of a comparatively inexpensive rotary machine.

In carrying this invention into practice I employ a machine having arotary boWl driven at high speed preferably about six thousand (6000)feet per minute. I make use of both the centrifugal force and thevelocity imparted to the" liquid by the high the centrifugal force theliquid is carried forcibly .a'gainst the peripheral or confining wail-0f said bowl and those impurities carried by the liquid having a higherspecifie;.'gravity than it will be thrown outward through the liquid tosaid confining wall to which they will adhere in a pasty mass, which isscraped off after the machine is stopped and the covers taken off thebowl. The cleansed liquid is carried by its velocity into and throughthe outlet pipe which is obstructed by the emulsifying devices; therebymuch of the velocity is converted into pressure against those devices.liquid in passing through the narrow passages of the emulsifying devicesis reconverted into velocity and at the same time the fat globules aredisrupted.

The centrifugal ejection of the grit and other foreign particles isfacilitated by the presence in the bowl of comparatively a smallquantity of the liquid at one time. therefore provide to the bowlautomatically controlling the supply of liquid to said bowl and actuatedto close when the rotating liquid in the bowl exceeds a predeterminedamount.

The machine preferably used in carrying out .this .im roved methodcomprises the pedestal or rams '5 having the head 6 and a valve in theinlet'pipe hearings in which is journaled the vertical shaft 7 adaptedto be rotated and having at its upper end the bowl 8 having theperipheral wall 9 which sustains the removable cover member 10. Mountedon the head 6 of frame 5 is the sustaining member 11 having the passage12, extending downward to deliver into the bowl 8 by the pipe 13 havingat its lower end the valve seat 14. Liquid is supplied to said passage12 through pipe 15. a

The upper portion of passage 12 is contracted somewhat and then enlargedto furnish the chamber 16 having the bore 17 leading to the gage pipe18. Secured in the wall ofsaid chamber 16 is the plug fitting 19 havingthe bore 20 in communication at one end with said chamber 16 andterminating at the other end in the valve seat 21 against which theemulsifier plug 22 is adjustably seated. ,This plug 22 is embraced bythe chamber 23 of said fitting 19 which chamber 23 receives the liquidpassing between the plug 22 and its seat.v The liquid escapes throughthe outlet 24 of said chamber 23.

Within the passage 12 is mounted the tubular stem 25 having at its lowerend within bowl 8 the shoulder 26 and the tubular arm 27 which extendsfrom said stem 25 to a point adjacent the wall 9 of bowl 8 and has anopen mouth adapted to receive the liquid rotating in said bowl andconvey it to the bore of said stem 25, and thence to chamber 16. Stem 25hasthe pin 28, Fig. 3, and rotatably mounted on said stem 25 between itsshoulder 26 and the lower end of pipe 13 is the sleeve 29 having the camslot 30,

engaged with pin 28, the lever arm 31, and the valve 32 which lattercofiperates with valve seat 14 of pipe 13.

It will be apparent from the above description that if the bowl 8 isrotated at a high speed preferably about four thousand six hundred(4600) revolutions per minute, the liquid supplied thereto will berotated at a proportionately high speed per minute and the centrifugalforce developed will cause those particles of foreign matter heavierthan the milk to be thrown through the milk against the wall 9 to whichthey will adhere in a sticky mass.

The velocity of the rotating liquid will impel it into the open mouth ofarm 27, through said arm and the tubular stem 25, thence through chamber16 and bore 20 to the plug 22. The plug obstructs the free flow of theliquid whereby considerable pressure is obtained, the amount of pressuredepending on the velocity of the rotating liquid. I have obtained from400 to 600 lbs. per square inch pressure when the bowl is rotated atabout four thousand six hundred (4600) to four thousand eight hundred(4800) revolutions per minute. The pres sure in the liquid is againconverted into velocity as it passes through the narrow passage betweenthe plug 22 and its seat and, at the same time, the fat globules aredisrupted and so comminuted that they will not rise to the surface ofthe liquid. If the supply of liquid accumulates in the bowl 8 until themass of rotating liquid held against wall 9 by centrifugal force strikesand moves the controller arm 31, it will cause the rotation of sleeve 29relative to pin 28 whereby said sleeve partially or wholly closesagainst seat 14 of the pipe 13 and thus controls the inflow of liquid.From'time to time the members 10 and 11 of the machine should bedetached and the accumulation of milk or liquid and foreign matteradhering to the wall 9 removed and the bowl 8 thoroughly cleansed. 1

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The method of treating a fatty liquid containingimpurities which consists in rapidly rotating a substantially constantvolume of said liquid in a suitable container, retain-ing saidimpurities on the inner wall of said container, conducting said liquidout of said container by the inertia of the liquidin rotation,developing pressure in said liquid by obstructing its flow, and breakingthe fat globules contained in said liquid by passing it in a thin filmat high velocity between closely adj acent. surfaces.

.2. The method of treating a fatty liquid containing impurities whichconsists in rapidly rotating a body of'said liquid in a container,retaining impurities of said liquid, forming a column of said liquid ofless area than said body and having a velocity attained by suchrotation, supplying liquid to said body to maintain a constant volume insaid column, developing pressure in the liquid of said column byobstructing its flow, and utilizing said pressure to break the fatglobules contained in said liquid.

Witnesses HENRY J. MILLER,

ESTHER C. MURPHY.

